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Mark Cooper

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Cooper still hoping to sign Austin

Darlington manager Mark Cooper remains hopeful of signing experienced defender Kevin Austin and is still running the rule over three trialists.

Cooper is in the hunt for a few old heads to compliment the balance of his squad and sees the 37-year-old veteran as an ideal acquisition.

But the Quakers face competition in the market, with Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Barrow known to be interested after taking the former Chesterfield man on trial.

Cooper also confirmed he will give right-back Jamie Clarke, midfielder Andy Stephenson and defender Joe Cornforth more game time against Whitley Bay on Monday night as they look to earn deals.

"It's not fair to judge them on a couple of games against the teams we have faced," Cooper told the Darlington and Stockport Times.

"We need to see them against teams that are a bit nearer to us in terms of quality. We have had three games and we can't get too disheartened.

"The three games we have had, we could have done with having games against lower teams. We have not seen much of the ball, it's been more about defending."